What's been happening?

1. School has started. That means the last few weeks of our lives have been crazy. Mady is in second grade. Kenzie is at the Methodist Church Day School.

2. This weekend, we went to Chandler for the annual Fantasy Football Festivities with some friends. We had a great time seeing everyone.

3. We stopped by Sasha's parents on the way home and had dinner. I ended up going home by myself and meeting them halfway the next day to pick up Sasha and the girls.

4. A lot has been happening at Northside....we finished family month the first Sunday in August. Then, we went on one final trip of the summer with the 180 students to San Antonio. We have been remodeling the Kid's area. Mark, Tommy and Jay have done an awesome job. We've had amazing services this month. God is good.

Sticky Teams Blog Tour

Larry Osborne has written a fantastic book entitled "Sticky Teams." I was captivated by this book. Obsborne stated that his "deep conviction that the health and long-term effectiveness of any ministry begins with the health and unity of its primary leadership teams." This book was written with Pastors, Staffs, Boards and Leadership Teams in mind.

One of the quotes that would sum up this book is "A unified and healthy leadership team doesn't just happen it has to be a priority." If you want to make a unified and healthy leadership team a priority in your ministry, then I suggest you purchase a book for every member of your leadership team.

The principles and leadership axioms in this book with help guide you and your team to a more healthy state. I highly recommend this book no matter what stage of your journey that you are in.

Click here to purchase a copy of this book!

Training

Last night, I had one of those Dad moments. After we got back from prayer meeting at church, Sasha had to run up to the school. So, I was home with the girls. I had set the DVR to record the Cowboys first preseason game. I got the girls ready for bed and put Kenzie down to bed. Mady, my oldest, and I had made plans to watch the game together. Since it wasn't a school night and since it was the Cowboys, I had made her the offer to stay up late if she would watch the game with me.

So, for the first time, she sat down and watched the entire first half with me. Kenzie came in when she realized Mady was staying up so we let her stay with us. For the first half, the three of us laid on the couch watching the Cowboys. It was awesome. I want my girls to love football.....it is selfish...I know, but I want someone to watch the games with me. :)

As I was praying this morning, I was thinking about the task of discipling my kids. I've said for years that I don't want anybody leading my kids to the Lord....that's my responsibility. I want to train my kids for life. Their formidable years are their preseason. Emmitt Smith said "All men are created equal...some just work harder in the preseason." My kids can do great things for God, but it is my wife and my job to see to that they are taught the things of God. This is way more important than if they love football. We pray with our girls. We read the Bible with them. We study JBQ with Mady. I know I still have room for improvement. Still, I'm not giving up.....I'm going to train them. :)

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

A Memorable Trip

Sasha and I took several of our 180 students to San Antonio for a week of fun. Here are some of the highlights of the trip!

1. We stopped in Round Rock and picked up my niece, Kelsey. She turned 17 on Tuesday....the day we picked her up. We went to Alamo Cafe and the wait staff sang to her. :)

2. Tuesday Night, one of our sponsors on the trip, Anita, was getting sick. She was throwing up. I was concerned for her, but also concerned for the whole group. I didn't want an epidemic of what she had. She kept telling me that she wasn't contagious. Some of the kids were concerned as well. So, Keith and Anita pull us together and told us that Anita was pregnant. Congratulations to them! We'll never forget that experience. :)

3. On Wednesday, we went to Sea World. I love that place....by far, my personal favorite theme park. We sat on the front row for the Shamu show. We were literally five yards or so away from the whales. It was awesome.

4. On Thursday, we went to Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. It was awesome.....they practiced for awhile. Then, at the end, we tried to get autographs. We went back to area where their bus was. Jason Witten came up....He stopped short of grabbing the football I brought to sign. :) I was so bummed.

5. We spent some time at the Riverwalk and Alamo. I love that area. :)

6. Hanging out with the students.....lots of laughs and memories. :)

Thanks guys for a great trip!

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

We attended Dallas Cowboys Training Camp yesterday. Here are my thoughts from training camp.

1. Dez Bryant is a genetic freak. He is taller that I expected and is ripped. I didn't get to see him run, but he appeared to have good hands while catching passes on the sidelines.

2. I like the secondary. Even with Dez out, they are getting to workout against some great WRs.

3. I look for Roy Williams to have a breakout season in a Cowboys uniform. I thought he looked great in practice. I noticed at one point Tony Romo giving him some instruction after Roy made a nice catch. I think those guys are getting on the same page. With defenses having to pay attention to Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, Roy Williams should add to his total.

4. Martellus Bennett looked like he had a gimpy ankle. He made some nice catches, but he was hobbling some.

5. I like Jon Kitna, but he makes me nervous as a backup. He appeared out of sync.

6. Got to see the lineman's haircuts....that's crazy stuff.

7. We tried to get autographs. Most of the players bolted for the locker room....the few that stayed out didn't come our way. So, on a tip, we headed for the area where the bus was at. Jason Witten came over our direction, but he stopped just short of grabbing the football I had for him to sign.

Rangers and Mark Cuban

Wow! Hot Sports Opinions two days in a row. :)

So, it looks like Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, may become the new owner of the Texas Rangers. The Reds are my #1 team, but the Rangers have been my American League team since Buddy Bell was playing. So, here is my gut reaction to Cuban becoming the Rangers owner.

1. I think it is great. Cuban has brought great energy and excitement to the Mavs.

2. The Mavs are a perennial playoff team. Could you imagine what would happen if the Rangers made the playoffs for 10 straight seasons? Yes, I understand that it is easier to make the playoffs in the NBA with 16 teams making the show compared to in MLB . Lets say that the Rangers make the playoffs 5 out of 10 seasons, Cuban has a statue in front of the Ballpark.
He is not afraid to spend for quality players and I think the Rangers would go after the right players. Cuban is a player's owner and would provide am amentities to the players that other teams would not have.

3. Marketing....Cuban is a genius at marketing. The Rangers would have better looking uniforms, better promotions, etc.

Reasons I would not like this deal....

1. If it had a negative impact of the Mavs. Can Cuban spend big in two major sports? I believe I read a quote that he said that it wouldn't affect the Mavs.

2. Nolan Ryan - If Cuban outbids Nolan Ryan's group and wins the auction for the Rangers, then I would like for Cuban to give Nolan Ryan the option of joining the ownership group and/or be a part of the Rangers franchise in the same capacity or similar capacity that he has been. Nolan Ryan has been the best thing that ever happened to the Rangers and I think he has done a great job of turning the club around.

2.

Will he or will he not retire?

Only in professional sports can you have the leader of your organization waffle and be as wishy washy as Brett Favre has been over the last several years.

Imagine in the Corporate world, the CEO of the company sends a text message to his employees and the board of directors that he is retiring......two months later, he comes back and says he still has some things left in the tank.

In the world in which I lead....the church world....Imagine if a Pastor told the congregation and church board that he was retiring, but came back after the annual business meeting and said you know I think I got one more year of sermons in me. Crazy.

The old leadership principle says not everyone likes strong leadership, but no one likes weak leadership.

Jesus told us in Luke that if you put your hand to the plow and turn back that you are not fit for the Kingdom of God.

Proverbs tells us that without vision, the people parish.

Set the course, stay on target and move forward! I wonder if the Vikings will move forward or be the pawn in the Brett Favre saga. Go Cowboys! :)